'Mercury Espresso' on Serious Eats

The capital of the province of Ontario in the Great White North, Toronto came slower to coffee than its West Coast kin. But from the first gasps in late 2006 to today's wild proliferation of artisanal shops (many of which are now onto their second, third or fourth location) there's no questioning the boom has hit—and hard. New local roasters like Detour, Te Aro, and Social are flanked by cadres of upscale coffee-gear-purveyors and friendly baristas slinging capps from Roncesvalles practically to Pape. Here are six of the top shops in Toronto to get your Canadian coffee tour underway. More